2019 Chevrolet Corvette Road Test and Review

Cars don’t come much sexier than the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. They don’t come with much more power either. Or speed. Or comfort. The Corvette is America’s best selling two-seat sports car, and it’s one of the best cars in the world. That has been the case for 66 years, ever since the first Corvette wowed the world in 1953. Over the past seven decades, from Perry Como to Cardi B, from Mickey Mantle to Aaron Judge, the Corvette has been a fixture of automotive cool for generations. And Corvette models like the L88, Z06, and ZR1 have become high-performance legends.

Built in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and now in its seventh generation, 2019 Corvette continues that legacy, offering extreme visual appeal and performance at a much lower price than its European and Japanese rivals, which include the Porsche 911, the Mercedes-AMG GTS, and the Nissan GT-R.

Prices start around $56,000.

There are four distinct versions of the 2019 Corvette: Stingray, Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1. All are two-seat coupes or convertibles with rear-wheel drive and a front-mounted V8 engine. Buyers can choose between a seven-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Prices for the base Corvette Stingray coupe, like our test car, start at $56,590, including a $1,095 destination charge. The convertible costs an additional $4,000 and comes with a power-operated soft top that retracts in seconds.

Under the Stingray’s long hood is a 6.2-liter V8 the Corvette shares with Chevy’s Camaro. In the Stingray, it’s rated at 455 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. That output is increased to 460 hp and 465 lb-ft with the optional Performance Exhaust system or the Z51 Performance Package. With a 0-60 mph time of just 3.7 seconds, the Corvette Stingray is one of the most powerful and quickest cars available for its price. The Porsche, Mercedes, and Nissan cost thousands, and in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars more.

Grand Sport and Z06

Special higher-performance versions of the Corvette have been available since the late 1950s, and that’s still the case in 2019. Buyers looking for more extreme exterior styling, power, and handling can step up to the Corvette Grand Sport or Z06. Prices for the Grand Sport start at $66,590. It combines the wider, more aggressive bodywork, suspension, and larger wheels and tires of the Z06 with the Stingray’s 460-hp naturally aspirated 6.2-liter LT1 V8. Chevy says it can hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

The Corvette Z06 takes things nuclear. Powered by a 650-hp supercharged version of the 6.2-liter V8, it’s one of the fastest, most powerful Corvettes of all time, capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in less than 3.0 seconds and reaching a top speed around 200 mph. At a base price of $80,490, it’s one of the high-performance bargains of all time.

The Ultimate Corvette

One of the worst-kept secrets in the automotive world is the mid-engine Corvette expected to debut next year. Although Chevy has teased us with mid-engine Corvettes since the 1960s, it will be the first time the design is actually offered to the public. When it debuts, it’s expected to be the best-performing Corvette of all time with the power and handling to take on mid-engine exotics like the Ferrari 488, Lamborgini Huracan, and the Audi R8.

Until then, the 755-hp Corvette ZR1 is the ultimate Corvette. With its upgraded aerodynamics and specially tuned 6.2-liter V8, it’s capable of 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 212 mph. Prices start just over $123,000 including destination and a $2,100 gas guzzler tax.

Fast and Fun

It’s hard to overstate the performance of the 2019 Chevy Corvette. Calling it fun to drive is like saying Jeff Bezos knows a little something about online commerce.

With options, our Corvette coupe test vehicle cost $73,325 and essentially represents the highest-performance version of the Stingray. It was equipped with a perfectly geared seven-speed manual transmission and the Z51 Performance Package, which includes a performance suspension, slotted brake rotors, a limited-slip differential, and sticky summer tires. Our car's other options included a magnetic ride control shocks, a carbon fiber ground effects package, and the 2LT Package that adds such luxuries as heat and cooled seats with memory.

If you want more performance than this, you would have to step up to the Grand Sport, Z06, or ZR1, but most enthusiasts will be satisfied with the Stingray’s speed. Its LT1 V8 engine is remarkably smooth, sounds great, and provides awesome amounts of bottom-end torque. It also comes on strong above 3,000 rpm and pulls hard to its 6,500-rpm redline.

Incredible Handling

Drive it hard on a twisty mountain road, and the 2019 Corvette Stingray feels small and light on its feet. The sports car changes direction so quickly when you ask it to it seems to defy the laws of physics.

The Corvette corners flat and its massive 20-inch rear and 19-inch front tires offer incredible grip. Its suspension is tuned wonderfully, and every Stingray comes with Driver Mode Selector, which allows you to adjust its shocks, throttle response, steering effort, and traction and stability control responses. Braking performance is also strong, and the Corvette’s steering is quick and provides proper feel despite its electric power assist.

Comfortable to Drive Every Day

Uncomfortable Corvettes are a thing of the past. Today’s Corvette is as comfortable as it is fast. This is a supercar you can drive to work every day and happily blast across three states on the weekends. A few years ago, I even drove a Corvette Stingray from Los Angeles to Detroit in complete comfort.

Having enjoyed that road trip, I had little hesitation to drive our Torch Red test vehicle 300 miles across the California desert to pick up my 73-year-old mother so she could visit her grandchildren. Although the Corvette’s seats are a little lumpy and some may find them to be narrow, my mother dug the ride. “Your father owned a few Corvettes over the years,” she said. “This one is so much more comfortable than those were.”

Surprising Fuel Economy

Although few people buy a Corvette for its fuel economy, this sports car is surprisingly fuel-efficient considering its high levels of horsepower. And its economy numbers are strong for its class.

The Corvette Stingray is rated by the EPA at 16 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission. With the available automatic, the city number dips to 15 mpg city. I averaged 21 mpg driving the car for a week around Los Angeles, and 24 mpg while highway cruising with my mom. The more powerful, supercharged Z06 and ZR1 models drink more: With the manual, the Z06 is rated 15 mpg city and 22 mpg highway, while the automatic achieves 13 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. The top-dog 755 hp ZR1 is rated 13 mpg city and 19 mpg highway with the manual, and 12 mpg city and 20 mpg highway with the eight-speed auto.

Well-Built Interior

This is the best Corvette interior ever. It’s well-appointed, it's nicely constructed, and it looks cool. All the controls are well-placed, simple, and easy to use, including the Stingray’s standard 8-inch touchscreen. The infotainment and navigation systems are also intuitive, and every Corvette comes with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. A tilting and telescopic steering wheel is standard, and the optional suede steering wheel is a cool piece. Rear visibility can be a challenge because of the low roofline and thick pillars, and the large rear spoiler on our test vehicle didn’t help.

Every Stingray coupe also comes with a lightweight, easily removed carbon fiber roof panel. It takes about a minute to unlatch it and store it in the trunk, which is huge for a sports car at 15 cubic feet. The trunk on convertible models measures 10 cubic feet.

People Stop and Stare

People don’t just notice the 2019 Corvette — they stare at it, drool over it, and ask you about it. Little kids see it coming down the road, stop and watch it drive by. Many ask if they can take a picture of the car. Chevy’s design team has done a wonderful job at including styling cues from Corvettes of the past while still making the sports car look completely modern. Although the design debuted back in 2014, it still looks fresh.

Our only issue was with our test car's optional ground effects package. It looked cool, but the front spoiler is so deep and so low it scrapes the ground constantly and sounds like it getting torn off by most driveways. Not cool.

Final Thoughts

Although the Stingray is the tamest of the modern Corvette models, its performance is extreme enough to thrill most buyers most of the time. But if you have the extra coin to spend, step up to the Z06. It’ll outhandle the Stingray and it’s packing 200 more horsepower. Of all the Corvette models, it’s our favorite.

Bottom line: The 2019 Corvette is the greatest Corvette Chevy has ever produced. In all its forms, this sports car is packed with desirability and delivers high levels of style, features, and performance. If you’re in the market for a sexy high-performance sports car, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette is a very desirable overall choice.